Workers' protest chant makes Erdogan cut his speech

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan faced protests of workers during his speech as part of a visit to Manisa Province on May 14, Aljazeera Turk TV channel reported.

The PM had to break off his speech, the TV channel said.

Turkey has announced a three day mourning period for victims of the mining accident, the Turkish Cabinet of Ministers said on May 14.

Turkish flags will fly at half staff in the country, as well as in all the diplomatic missions for the three day mourning period, according to the Cabinet of Ministers.

Some 238 people were killed in the mine accident in Manisa province, according to the latest data.

Earlier Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz said that the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources does not have accurate data on the number of workers who were in the mine at the time of the explosion.

He said the data on the number of workers in the mine at time of the accident was earlier provided by the head of the mine.

The minister added that some 370 people have been rescued as part of rescue operations.

"Few chances remain to rescue the miners," Yildiz said earlier.

The mine has burst into flame and although the miners have few chances for survival, the rescuers will do everything possible, the minister stressed.